The Limited Effect of a History of COVID-19 on Antibody Titers and Adverse Reactions Following BNT162b2 Vaccination: A Single-Center Prospective Study.

ABSTRACT

Background and Objectives: The need for, and ideal frequency of, the vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) of previously infected individuals have not yet been sufficiently evaluated. The aim of this study was to examine the anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibody status and adverse reactions after vaccination among medical staff with or without a history of COVID-19. Materials and Methods: A single-center prospective study was performed at Fukuoka University Chikushi Hospital. We investigated the presence of the anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody titer among medical staff before and after mRNA vaccination with the BNT162b2. The levels of immunoglobulin G antibody were quantitatively measured at six points-before vaccination, after the first vaccination, at three points after the second vaccination, and finally, after the third vaccination-and the levels were then compared based on the COVID-19 infection history. Results: The previously infected (before the first vaccination) subjects (n = 17) showed a marked increase in antibody titers two weeks after the first vaccination and four weeks after the second vaccination. Although they were able to maintain a certain level of antibody titers until 30 weeks after the second vaccination, the titers fell in the same way as observed in the non-infected subjects. The subjects who did not receive the third vaccination due to adverse reactions to previous vaccines (n = 1) or who were positive for COVID-19 prior to the third vaccination (n = 2) were excluded from the subsequent analyses. Among non-infected subjects (n = 36), smokers had lower peak antibody titers than the others. The previously infected subjects had a significantly higher incidence of adverse reactions after the first vaccination but had a similar incidence of adverse reactions after the second and third vaccinations compared to the non-infected subjects. Conclusions: A history of COVID-19 may influence only the initial increase in anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers and the occurrence of adverse reactions after the first vaccination.